10 Jan., 1918.] Reminders. 63 



Cattle. — Provide succulent feed and plenty of clean water easy of access; also 

 shade and salt lick in trough. Have each cow's milk weighed and tested for butter 

 fat regularly. Rear heifer calves from those that show profitable results. Give 

 milk at blood heat to calves. Keep utensils clean or diarrhoea will result. Do 

 not give too much at a meal for the same reason. Give half-a-cup of limewater 

 per calf per day in the milk. Let them have a good grass run or lucerne, or 

 half-a-pound of crushed oats in a trough. Dehorn all dairy calves except those 

 required for stud or show purposes. Keep bulls away from cows. 



Pigs. — Sows about to farrow should be supplied with short bedding in well- 

 ventilated styes. All pigs should be provided with shade and water to wallow in. 

 There will be plenty of cheap feed available now, and there is a good marg-in 

 between cost of feed and price for fat pigs. Read Bulletin No. 16, May, 1!)15. 

 Pigs should be highly profitable animals to feed now. 



Very coarse cross-bred ewes are usually not in season until this month. Where 

 grazing sheep or ewes for future breeding and shearing are required, good fleeced 

 merino rams, if procurable, should be used with these. Quality and quantity of 

 fleece, as well as carcase, should be kept in view for several years to oome. Should 

 there be among the rams to be used any distinctly inferior to the others, keep them 

 back for twenty-one days, giving the best rams the first three weeks, being sure the 

 ewes are in season. Narrow, inferior rams are almost invariably active, rapid 

 workers compared to sheep of more substance. Keep salt available. Drench any 

 weaners scoviring. If necessary to feed do not wait until in-lamb ewes are \veak 

 before commencing. When on continuous dry feed sheep move directly off camp 

 to water towards evening each day before feeding. When water becomes inferior, 

 or scarce, and available to in-lamb ewes irregularly, losses with both ewes and 

 lambs before and after lambing appears to be more prevalent. 



Avoid moving good woolled sheep unnecessarily in heat and dust of summer. 



Poultry.- — Chickens should now be trained to perch ; they will be more healthy. 



Provide plenty of green feed and give less grain and meat. Avoid condiments. 

 Keep water in cool shady spot and renew three times each day. Keep dust bath 

 damp. 



Birds showing symptoms of leg weakness should be given 1 gi'ain of quinine per 

 day (three months old chickens, ^ grain) and plenty of milk. 



CULTIVATION. 



Farm. — See that haystacks are weatherproof. Cultivate stubble and fallow, 

 and prepare land for winter fodder crops. Get tobacco sheds ready for crop. In 

 districts where February rains are good, sow rye, barley, vetches, and oats for 

 early winter feed. 



Orchard. — Spray for codlin moth. Search out and destroy all larvae. Cultivate 

 the surface where necessary and irrigate where necessary, paying particular atten- 

 tion to young trees. Fumigate evergreen trees for scale. Continue budding. 



Flower Garden. — Cultivate the surface and water thoroughly during hot 

 weather. Summer-prune roses by thinning ovit the weak wood and cutting back 

 lightly the strong shoots. Thin out and disbud dahlias and chrysanthemums. 

 Layer carnations. Plant a few bulbs for early blooms. Sow seeds of perennial 

 and hardy annual plants. 



Vegetable Garden. — Continue to plant out seedlings from the seed-beds. Sow 

 seeds of cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, peas, turnip, and French beans. Keep all 

 vacant plots well dug. 



Vineyard. — February is the best month for the " Yema " or Summer bud graft 

 (see article in Journal for January and February, 1917). Select scion-bearing 

 vines; mark with oil paint those conspicuous for quality and quantity of fruit, 

 regular setting and even maturity. 



Sulphur again, if oidium is prevalent, but avoid applying sulphur to wine 

 grapes too short a time before gathering. 



Cellars. — Prepare all plant and casks for the coming vintage. An ounce of 

 bisulphite of potash, or a couple of fluid ounces of bisulphite of soda solution, to 

 each bucket of water used to swell press platforms, tubs, &c., will help to keep 

 it sweet. Keep cellars as cool as possible. Complete all manipulations so as to 

 avoid handling older wines during vintage. 



